Historic Diamond Necklace Associated with Marie Antoinette Fetches $4.8 Million at Auction

The auction of a diamond necklace attributed to Marie Antoinette, sold for $4.81 million, reveals both historical significance and market demand for royal artifacts. The piece, intricately tied to a scandal that tarnished her reputation, has ignited interest among collectors and historians alike.

The auction of a diamond necklace believed to be connected to the scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette has concluded, with the piece selling for an impressive $4.81 million (£3.8 million). The exquisite Georgian necklace, adorned with approximately 500 diamonds, captivated bidders, ultimately selling for nearly double Sotheby's pre-auction estimate. Andres White Correal, a jewellery specialist at Sotheby's, described the atmosphere during the auction in Geneva as "electric." The identity of the buyer, who expressed intense joy over her success, remains undisclosed.

The new custodian of the necklace reflected on the significance of jewelry with historical importance, stating, "I'm exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don't own it, I'm merely the custodian until the next person will come along." Correal emphasized that such pieces are coveted not only for their beauty but also for the rich history they encompass.

Marie Antoinette, born in Austria in 1755, became the queen of France upon marrying King Louis XVI. Her reign ended tragically with her execution in 1793 during the French Revolution. The necklace, which some believe includes diamonds from the infamous "affair of the diamond necklace" scandal of the 1780s, has ties to Jeanne de la Motte—a woman who deceived a cardinal into acquiring the jewel under false pretenses.

Although Marie Antoinette was never implicated in the scandal, its repercussions deeply affected her standing with the French populace, who perceived her as extravagant and influential over the monarchy. Over time, remnants of the original necklace, which featured 650 diamonds and weighed around 2,800 carats, were sold on the black market.

In a recent twist of fate, a jeweler from London's Bond Street confirmed purchasing over half of the original jewels shortly after their theft for around £10,000, as noted by Sotheby's. Recent expert analyses suggest that the age and quality of the newly sold necklace's diamonds closely match those of the long-lost originals.

This necklace, previously worn at historical royal events—such as Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and King George VI's crowning—was part of the Anglesey family collection for approximately a century prior to its acquisition by a private collector in the 1960s. As the interest in royal possessions continues to grow, the sale underlines the intricate relationship between history, art, and market values.